H11 -- March 2007 -- Managing Your Medications

Intro: Hundreds of thousands of people go to the ER every year because of problems with medications they're taking -- accidental overdoses, side effects and bad interactions. Pharmacists at Mayo Clinic are tying to change that. They've started a new program that helps people manage their medications safely and as cost-effectively as possible.

VIVIAN MEECH SAYS TAKING LOTS OF PILLS CAN BE A NUISANCE.

"I HAD TO TAKE THESE THINGS FOUR TIMES A DAY."

EVERY DAY VIVIAN TAKES A VARIETY OF MEDICATIONS TO TREAT CROHN'S DISEASE AND ANOTHER CONDITION THAT CAUSES HER JOINTS TO BECOME STIFF. PLUS ONE OF HER MEDICATIONS WAS CAUSING BAD SIDE EFFECTS.

"THERE WAS SOMETHING IN THAT DRUG THAT INTERACTED WITH MY PILLS AND INTERACTED WITH MY LIVER."

TO HELP VIVIAN GET ON A SAFER AND LESS CUMBERSOME DRUG REGIMEN, HER DOCTOR RECOMMENDED SHE MEET WITH A PHARMACIST IN MAYO CLINIC'S MEDICATION THERAPY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.

"I'M GOING TO ASK YOU IF YOU HAVE ANY PARTICULAR CONCERNS..."

"THE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS FOR THE PHARMACIST AND PATIENT TO WORK TOGETHER TO FIND OUT WHAT TYPE OF DRUG THERAPY WOULD BE MOST CONVENIENT FOR THE PATIENT, THE MOST EFFECTIVE AND THE SAFEST."

RESEARCH IN THE JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION SHOWS THAT EVERY YEAR MORE THAN 700-THOUSAND PEOPLE GO TO THE ER BECAUSE OF THEIR MEDICATIONS, AND ONE SIXTH OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE HOSPITALIZED. MAYO CLINIC PHARMACIST LAURA ODELL AND COLLEAGUES SAY SOME OF THESE EVENTS CAN BE AVOIDED IF PEOPLE KNOW MORE ABOUT THE DRUGS THEY'RE TAKING, BOTH PRESCRIPTION AND OVER --THE-COUNTER.

"WE REALLY FOCUS ON GIVING THEM DRUG MANAGEMENT TOOLS."

"THIS IS THE LIST OF ALL THE MEDICATIONS. IT TELLS WHICH ONES TO TAKE AND WHEN."

HAVING LEARNED MORE ABOUT HER MEDICATIONS, VIVIAN'S NOW ON A PROGRAM THAT'S SAFER, MORE MANAGEABLE AND MORE COST-EFFECTIVE. FOR MEDICAL EDGE, I'M VIVIEN WILLIAMS.

Anchor tag: Laura O'Dell says the medicine management program is not meant to replace the relationship you have with your community pharmacist. It's another option for people with multiple medical concerns to learn more about how to get the most benefit form their medications. For more information, visit our Website at ...

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